Receptacle



NOV. 1, 1938. -j J FITZ GERALD 2,135,392

RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 23, 1937 FIG. 1. FIG. 2. FIG. 3. FIG. 4.

6 INVENTOR.

. qJ63, JUHHJFTTZ ErePald :3 Q MM m,

l 8 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 23,

This invention relates to deposit and collection receptacles and more particularly to receptacles, having means to detachably secure them to supports, and closures provided with latching means actuated upon the deposit of articles in the receptacles. 7

One example of such a receptacle and its use is a milk bottle-receiving device, adapted to receive and retain the milk bottle within the'device until it maybe removed upon "actuation of certain mechanism. 7

An important object of the invention is 'to provide such a receptacle having means to detachably secure it to a-support and bolt it thereby an unauthorized person, means automatically latching the closure of the receptacle upon the deposit of articles therein and a means having the dual functions of unbolting the receptacle :irom its support and unlatcliing the closure.

Another important object is to provide a "-receptacle which may be detachably secured to a portion of a closure structure, such as a door or a door jam'b, and cannot be removed "therefrom unless the door be open, nor can the closure be unlatched, when it is once latched, unless the same door -be open.

Still another important object is to provide a receptacle Tor milk bottles or the like which may be temporarily attached "to a 'door "or door jamb and when removedthere will be no canspicuous or objectionable brackets, projections or the like "in sight, neither will it be necessary to mutilate the door -or door 'jamb as by cutting -openings or removing portions of the door '0I door 'jamb.

Another-object is to provide a weight-actuated latching means 'for a receptacle closure, unlat'ching of the closure being possible, despite this weight, only when the structure, uponwhich the receptacle is supported, is 'in a certain position. Yet another object is to provide a receptacle, having the novl characteristics enumerated, which comprises few and inexpensive parts and parts notapt to get out of order, freeze or break.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description "of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing:

Figures 1 to 4 are horizontal sections of various closure structures, illustrating the association of the receptacle therewith.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of therecepta'cle, with its closure open.

to in such a manner that it may not be removed I 1937, Serial No. 160,508

Figure 6 'is a vertical section of the receptacle.

Figure "7 is a horizontal section of the receptac'le and a portion of a closure structure to which it is secured.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of 5 portions of "the combined receptacle-securing bolting and un'bolting means and means to unlatch the closure of the receptacle.

In the drawing which shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and its application by 10 a minor modification to various closure structures, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates the recepthe letters C, D, E and F various closure structures with which therecep'tacles A and B are associated. a

The receptacle Apreierablykcornprises a boxlike housing Ill, having paralleling end walls 2H .20

closing the mouth M oi the housing, all of which *25 define a compartment or chamber t8.

At the forward edge of the end wall I there may be a hinge 1 -9 upon which the closure H6 is hung. "The end wall I2 carries considerable of the closure latching means, to be later described 30 in detail, and :is provided with a vertically-extending slot '20, "which is disposed preferably at or close to the rear wall 1'3. "This slot .20 is associated with the receptacle bolting and 'urib'olting and closure'unla'tching rmeans, .later described.

Through the rear wall 1-3 extend preferably tWospaced-apart keyhole-like slots 2|. The distance across the slots 2| :at their rounded edges 23 is greater than the distance across at the paralleling edges 22, with the straight parallel- 40 ing edges 22 :of "the slots uppermost and the rounded edges 23 of "theslots lowermost. These slots may be disposed upon the longitudinal medial line or the rear wall 13.

A hinge 24 may be (provided and secured by '45 any approved means to the inner face of the bottom wall l'5, adjacent theend wall ll, so that a false bottom, later described, :may be hinged thereto. v

The closure '16 may be provided with an out- 50 wardly-ex'tending knob or handle "25.

Means for detachabl-ysupporting the housing to a suitable support is provided and preferably comprises amember '26 for each-slot 24. These members '26 may comprise a screw threaded por- '65 tacle, the letter B the modification thereof and '15 tion 21, pointed at one end and each having a squared portion 28 at itsopposite end. Capping just described is secured afterthe housing-has been hung uponthejmembers 26, as isnow apparent; To prevent this, bolting and unbolting means is plOVidedyWhiCh meanshas another function, as'will'be later-described. Thedual' means, just. referred to,'comprises an elongated, fiat, reciprocatingmember orslide 30, having a 7 I 'widthofithe narrower, partszoitheslots 2| or the squared portion28 is a hemi-spherical head portion 29 provided with a slot to accommodate a screw driver or the like. It should be noted that each squared portion 28 has a Width very slightly less than the width of either slot 2| at the straight parallelingedges 22 thereof, and a depth slightly more than the thickness of the rear wall |3.. The diameter of. the head portion- 29 should be slightly less than the distance across either slot 2| at its rounded edges 23. This permits the head portions 29 to enter the slots :1 2| at their rounded edges 23 but not at their paralleling edges 22 and when the squared por-' 'tions 28 are disposed within the narrower; parts of the slots 2|, the parallelingedges 22'will prevent the members 26 frorn' being .rotated. Of course, the members 26 are permanently attached to a suitable support, such as a portion of C, D, E or F, later described, byscrewing'their screw-threaded portions intothe support until only the squared and hemi-spherical head portions protrude.

housing l0 from asupport to which the means slot 3| at one end, extending toward. the other :end, and having a width substantially like the in. other -words, slightly more than the width of the squared portions 28. .In practice, the width;,.

of the slot 3|;may be" greaterj just .so it, is not :Jgreater'thanithe .len'gth'of theslots 2|." At the- 'endof theslide} 30,;Opl1 site, the {slotted end thereof,,is. a ring orf-fln'ger hold 32,-secured totheslide 30 as by'turning theend thereof over a,

" portion of theiflnger-holdso thatfthe fingerhold 132 may be swung to form various angles with the slide'30. Extending upwardly at an angle,.pref- 'erably an acute angle, from the upperedge of the. slide 30 ;is an extension or wing portion 33; having a ledge or shoulder portion 34 extending I @normal to thewing portion 33 and this ledge portion 34 may be upturned at its "end nearest. .7 the base of the wing, forming a guard portion 35 for a purpose later-described; The'wing portion 33' may form, with the slide-.30, an acute angular recess 36, as shown' particularly in Figure 8, so

" that two edges 1 are provided,,the upper edge 31 .20 in'theend wall I2.

of- ..theslide" 30 'and the lower edge .38 of the wing portion 33, extending upwardlyfrom the edge 31. The slide, 30 extends through the slot 1 It should be noted that the'length of the slot 20 is'sornewhat less than.

the distance from the lowermost'edge 39 of the,

' slide 30 .to the uppermost tip of the 'wingportion 33, and that, the height of the slide 30 is slightly greater. than the 'length-;of the slot 20. It is thereforeapparentlthat when the slide .30 is in. theslot, 20 it cannot be wholly withdrawn, and

that the guard portion--35 coversmuchjof-the slot 20Vwhen the slide 30 is pushed in, as will be :described The slide- 30 is slidably attached to the rear wall ;|3 as by two ,slideguides 4|| and 4| disposed to-either side ofjthe uppermost slot 2|,secured to? the rear ,wall ;|31, and-positioned so that, as 'the, slide 30 is moved inwardly, the

m h r i i ov rlie th ex em u per; end

However, it is, possible, despite the assembly thus'far described, to detach the r 4 of thatslot 2|, with the upper, edge of s the slot 3| and the-uppermost edge of the slot 2| subthis slide 30 pushed in, the slide will effectually bolt the housing I!) to its support until the slide 30' is drawn outwardly, so that it will clear the, slot2l, whereupon the housing I0 may be raised upwardly until'the head portions 29 of the members 26 align with the rounded parts of the slots .2 and by drawing the housing forwardly, it will come away from its support.

" The latching means for the receptacle preferably include a vertically reciprocating member 50. slidably secured. to the inner face of the end wall l2 as by spaced apart slide guides 5|. This;

member 50 may be provided withtwo arms 52- and 53,-one extending toward the mouth" ofthe housing I0 and the other arm 53 toward the rear wall I3;

The arm: 52, at; its free end is provided with a, curved or bent extremity 5,4 which is adapted to V r V 30,." considerable,

engage a curved or bent keeper 55 of resilient material, 7 although possessing I strength, extending from and secured to the inner face of the closurelB. The otherarm 53 extends to a position so that it may abut, at its free end, the ledge 34, being'bent over so asto form a better contact withthe ledge34.

The reciprocating member .50 is urged upward- 1y by any. suitable means such as a contracting coil spring 56 secured, at oneend, to the end wall the member 50,

At 1 the, lower [extremity }of l2 and, at its other, end,-to:-a'suitable portion of normally spaced above the bottom wall I5 I Hingedto the bottom wall l5, as by the hinge 24, :is a'falsebottom 58 preferably extending n the reciprocating 7 7 member 5 0,a portion is inturned as at 5! and over the'greater portion of the fixed bottom wall |5and with its end, opposite its hingedend, resting upon the inturned portion 51 of the member As maybe seenyin Figure 5, this tilts the false bottom 58.] 1

With' the false bottom tilted, as in Figure 5,

the arm 52 will .be above the keeper when the a closure I6 is in a closed position but when the false bottom 58 is depressed, as by the weight of the bottle of milk, the false bottom 58. willcause the reciprocating member 5! to move'downwardly so that the curved extremity. 54 of the arm ;52 will tengagethe curved portion of the keeper 55, and thus latch the closure. l6.

lowermost position the free end of the arm '53 willrest upon thelowermost portion ofthe ledge 60. When the reciprocating member 50 is in its.

34, but it is necessary that the slide13|| be in its f pushed-in position, i. e;, its position as shown in Figure 5.

With the closure of the housing lillatched, as; V

out the slide .30 so' that the upwardly. sloping surface of the ledge 34 will force the arm' 53 upwardly and, consequently, the member 50 and I described, the only way to unlatch it is to draw arm 52; This will unlatch the closure l6 and the v receptacle may be opened to removethe con:

tents. However, it is now apparent that, while 'unlatching the closure Hi, the housing l0 is also being unbolted from its support so that the housing and its contents may be removed from its support, leaving only the inconspicuous protruding ends of the members 26. Fromthis, it will be apparent that the housing I may be readily reattached to its support and bolted against removal.

Since the fingerpiece 32 must protrude from the housing [0, and so as to dispense with relatively costly means, such as padlocks, keys, etc'., to secure the slide 30 against unauthorized drawing outwardly, a novel association of the receptacle with its support is provided.

With practically all types of supports, but two types of receptacles will be required. One is that just described as A, and the other, B, has the latching means 50, 5|, 52, 53, 54 and 56 arranged upon the left hand end wall and the keeper 55 upon the left hand portion of the closure [6,

with the slide 30 protruding from the left hand end wall.

The receptacle A may be attached to closure structures, such as C and F, while the receptacle B may be attached to closure structures, suchas D and E.

The closure structure C may include a closure, such as a door 69, hinged as at 6| to a door jamb 62 without trim. In this structure, the receptacle A may be attached to the jamb 62 so that the outer face of the wall l2 will face the closed door 60 and be so positioned that the fingerhold 32, when swung normal to the slide 30 will contact or be very close to the face of the door 60.

In the closure structure D, the door 10' is hung upon a hinge 1| carried by a jamb 12. which. is provided with a stop 13. It would be impossible to properly secure the receptacle A to the jamb, as in Figure 1, without cutting the stop 13 so, by the employment of the receptacle B, it may be supported upon the door 10, as shown, with the fingerhold 32 in contact with or very close to the stop.

Figure 3 shows the closure structure E, showing an assembly of doors 80, hinge 8|, and jamb 82 substantially like E, but with the door hung from the other jamb. With this arrangement, the receptacle B, may be employed and supported, of course, upon the jamb 82 of the closure structure E.

In Figure 4, the door 90 is hung by a hinge 9| upon a jamb 92 having a stop 93 somewhat like that shown in Figure 2. Because of the stop 93, the receptacle A is employed and supported upon the door 90 of the closure structure F.

In each of these four arrangements, it is now obvious that when the receptacles A and V are upon their supports C, D, E or F, the only time the slide 30 may be drawn out is when the doors 6!], I0, 89 or 90, as the case may be, are opened. When the doors are closed, whether the closure [6 is open or latched, the receptacles A and B cannot be detached from their supports and when the closure [6 is latched, it cannot be unlatched while the doors 69, 10, 80, or 90, as the case may be, are closed, since a portion of the closure structure, in each case, blocks movement of the slide 39, for in each case, a portion of the closure structure shields the wall of the receptacle A or B from which protrudes the slide 30.

By the term substantially in contact where the member 39 is referred to in the claims is meant that the member 30 including its fingerhold 32 is so near or is in contact with a portion of the closure structure that the member 30 cannot be manipulated to draw it outwardly.

From the above, it will be seen that the same means which unbolts the receptacles from their supportsalso unlatches the closures I6.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention hereinabove shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a receptacle of the class described and adapted to be" secured to a headed projection, such as a screw, disposed upon a hinged closure structure which, upon opening of the closure thereof, will reveal a portion of said receptacle which is normally shielded by a portion of said closure structure when said closure structure is in. a closed position, a housing provided with outer walls and a closure, one of said outer walls being provided with an aperture for receiving said headed projection; latch means for said receptacle closure; and means, mounted for recipro'catory movement inwardly and outwardly of the receptacle at said normally shielded portion, for engaging said headed projection, upon said" inward movement, and for disengaging said headed projection and releasing said latch means, upon said outward movement.

2. In combination with a closure structure, including a swinging closure portion and a stationary portion normal thereto when said closure is closed, a receptacle including a housing having. walls normal to each other and a receptacle closure, means detachably supporting said housing to one of said portions of the closure structure with one of said walls facing the other of said portions and spaced slightly therefrom; a bolt mounted for movement inwardly and outwardly of the receptacle through said one wall, and engaging and disengaging the supporting means upon said inward and outward movements, respectively, said bolt being retained against withdrawal from engagement with the supporting means, when said closure is closed, by substantial contact with said portion last mentioned; and latching means for said receptacle closure.

3. In combination with a closure structure, including a closure portion and a stationary portion normal thereto when said closure is closed, a receptacle including a housing having walls normal to each other and a receptacle closure, means detachably supporting said housing to one of said portions with one of said walls facing the other of said portions and spaced slightly therefrom; means movable into and out of engagement with said supporting means for respectively bolting and unbolting said housing and said closure structure, including a handle for operatively controlling said latter means, disposed between said one wall and said other portion, when the closure is closed, so as to be accessible for manipulation only upon opening of the closure, and latching means for said receptacle closure.

4. In combination with a closure structure, including a closure portion and a stationary portion normal thereto when said closure is closed, a receptacle including a housing having walls normal to each other and a receptacle closure, means detachably supporting said housing to one of said portions with one of said walls facing the other of said portions and spaced slightly therefrom when the closure is closed; latching means for said receptacle closure; and a member selectively engageable with said supporting means to secure the housing to said one portion, and with said latching means to unlatch the same, in-- 6.v In combination with a support, "a receptacle including a, housing having outer walls'normal 1 eluding a handle portion disposed snugly in the saidspace between said one wall and said other portion, when thelclosure is closed; sofas to be accessible for manipulation only upon opening oi the closure.

5. In combination with a support, a receptacle including a housing having outer walls normal to each other, a floor and a closure for said hous ing; latching means for said closure including a false bottom within said housing and normally disposed above and movable toward the'floor thereof, a reciprocating member operativelyconnected with said false bottom, a latch arm carried by said reciprocating 'member, a l resilient keeper carried by said closure, adapted to coopcrate with said latch arm when said false bottom moves rtowardsesaid fioor,a second arm carried by said reciprocating member and extending away from said-closure; and resilient means normally urging said reciprocating member upward- 7 ly, means extending through one of said walls,

detachably supporting said housing'to said support, said means including a member secured to said supportand having a substantially squared ,portion and an enlarged portion capping said squared portion, extending into said housing through a wallthereof; means cooperating with said supporting means for selectively bolting said "housingto said support, unbolting said housing from said support, and unlatching said closure, including a slide reciprocable into and out, of said housing, having a slot with said squared portion v extending into said slot and with the edges of said'enlarged portion overlying parts of said slide --v/hen the latter is in, said housing, said slide hav:

ing a portion adapted to engage and raise said second named arm when saidslide is withdrawn to clear said squared portion and said enlarged portion.

to each otherya floor, and a closure for said housing; latching means for said closure including a false bottom within said housing and normally disposed above and movable towards the 7 connected with saidfalse bottom, a latch arm carried by said reciprocating member, a resilient, keeper carried by said closure, adapted'to coopfloor thereof, a reciprocating member operatively i erate with said latch arm when said false bottom moves toward said floor, a second arm carried by said reciprocating member, and, resilient means normally urging said reciprocating member upwardly; means extending through one of said walls, detachably supporting said housing to said support, including a member secured to said support having a portion extending through a 'Wall of said housing and protruding into the compartment within said housing, said portion having an enlarged head; meanscooperating with said supporting means for selectively bolting said housing to said closure structure, un-

bolting said housing from said closure structure, and unlatching said closure, including a slide reciprocable into and out of said housing, having a slot with said portioneof said last named member extending into said slot and With a portion of said head overlying a portion of said slide when the latter is in said housing, said slide havward a wall of said housing, with said second arm in contact therewith at the lowermost portion of said sloping portion when said slide is in said housing and said falsebottom is closest to said 30' ing a sloping portion extending downwardly toi 

